EFFECT OF NEBULIZED KETAMINE AND MAGNESIUM SULPHATE IN THE PREVENTION OF POSTOPERATIVE SORE THROAT FOLLOWING GENERAL ANAESTHESIA WITH ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a frequent complication following endotracheal intubation, with incidences up to 70%. This study evaluates the efficacy of nebulized ketamine and magnesium sulphate in preventing POST compared to a normal saline control in patients undergoing general anaesthesia. Methods: This interventional study, conducted at Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Jammu, from April 2024 to March 2025, included 150 patients (ASA I-II, aged 25–65 years) undergoing surgeries lasting less than 2 hours. Patients were randomized into three groups (n = 50 each): Group K (ketamine 50 mg in 5 mLof saline), Group M (magnesium sulphate 250 mg in 5 mL of saline), and Group C (5 mL of normal saline). Nebulization was administered pre-intubation. Cough reflex and sore throat were assessed at 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours post-extubation using a 0–3 scale. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 21, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The ketamine group showed significantly lower incidences of cough reflex and sore throat across all time points. At 1 hour, 64% of Group K had no cough (score 0) vs. 32% in Groups M and C (p=0.021); at 4 hours, 80% vs. 40% and 32% (p<0.001). For sore throat, 72% of Group K reported no symptoms at 1 hour vs. 34% (Group M) and 18% (Group C, p<0.0001), with similar trends at 2, 4, and 24 hours (p<0.05). No significant differences were noted in demographic or intubation parameters across groups. Conclusion: Nebulized ketamine significantly reduces the incidence and severity of POST and cough reflex compared to magnesium sulphate and normal saline, offering a promising preventive strategy for patients undergoing general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation.